Always his Head

Jayke, Connor, His friend ?, Mason, and Alec

Jayke got invited to go skiing with Mason a few days ago.  I was a little worried about letting him go since he never has been and also based on my limited and unpleasant experience skiing.  I've been once.  Once is all I needed to determine it wasn't for me.  Turns out Jayke is just like his momma!  He had the exact same experience.  He fell down the entire mountain.  Only difference is he hit his head really hard.  Hard enough for the parent he was with to text me to see if he could take Tylenol.  It never fails, every time he goes any where he either hits his head or just gets a headache that sidelines him.  Poor kid.  

At least Bob and Angie got a few pics of him on skis since it will probably be a once in a lifetime thing!

After the great fall down the mountain, Angie took Jayke, her son, and his friend to the tubes.  This was much more enjoyable for him.  I'm glad he got to go so that he can say he has been and know whether or not he wants to do it again.  He just has no dare devil in him.  Probably why we haven't had to spend any time in the er yet.  I wish he had a little more in him...not er levels but just a little bit.

Perfect North Slopes

Your Face Looks Cold...Let me Lay on It!

Josie's feet

Josie.  How she has changed the dynamic in our house is amazing.  Even Laynie is running around thinking she is a pup again!  Josie is always busy attacking someone, throwing her toys around, or just lounging around like below...

She must have felt I looked cold and needed to warm my face!

She also enjoys watching movies with Jeff and me...

Luna enjoys her.  She likes to lay with her, play with her, and especially loves bathing her.

Nemo seems a little unsure of her purpose here.  He plays with her but mostly just watches.  He is particularly patient with her when she wakes him up by jumping on his head.  He nicely tries to push her away instead of smacking her like he does Luna.

Josie doesn't discriminate.  She will even jump on Laynie's head and give her a quick bath before tumbling off.

First GREAT Valentine's Day...Maybe Ever...

I've always HATED Valentine's Day.  Probably because I never had someone I truly considered my "Valentine" but this year, that all changed.  I was really looking forward to this day mostly because I had such a great gift to give to Jeff.  I had been working on it for weeks and oddly, had managed to keep it a secret.  Normally I would be too excited and ruin the surprise but not this year.  Turns out I wasn't the only one with a surprise to give.

A ring of the doorbell brought the roses in the picture above while I was busy doing my usual Saturday ADD cleaning.  That would be when I start one thing and get distracted by something in another room and never truly get anything finished.  That's how I roll these days in my advanced age. 

I love getting flowers.  LOVE it!!!  Funny that no one ever sends them to me, no one until now that is.

Later that evening Jeff showed up with more goodies.  He and I have an ongoing "fight" about who loves who more and who can come up with the most creative way to say/prove it.  He bought me the sign in the picture above to remind me that he SUPPOSEDLY loves me more (he is wrong...as usual btw) he also got me a book that he had to fill in what he loves about me.  This was both sweet and humorous...much like our relationship.

My gift to him had a theme.  I gave him one of the below jars (filled with his favorite candy) each day starting on the Monday before Valentine's Day leading up to the grand finale...

The Jar's Contents and notes

Sour Patch Kids --"You're my candy crush"

Gummy SweetHearts--"You have my heart"

Hershey's Kisses--"Kisses for you"

Sweet Tarts

Gummy Sour Worms--"Hooked on you"

....and the final jar, which I gave him on Valentine's Day was 365 love notes (reasons I love you, lyrics, quotes, remember whens and anything else I could think of) one for each day over the next year.  Some what similar to his book he gave me only on a grander scale (because I like to go over board).  He loved it, of course, but maybe not as much as I loved making it and giving it to him. I also gave him a colts t-shirt and a new blanket (card with the blanket read "It's cold, lets cuddle!")  I'm betting he cheats and reads more than one note a day, which is why I actually put over 400 notes in the jar...that and because I mis-counted.

 We went to Fuji for dinner so I could have scallops and back home to watch a movie.  

I did the same thing for Jayke...jars of treats, a new Nike t-shirt and a Hershey's I Love You chocolate.

Before the actual holiday we also celebrated at work by making Valentine's boxes and passing out candy and little Valentine's to every one.  We also had a breakfast carry in.  Our department is always the one that comes up with these ideas and gets everyone involved.  We have fun every day.  

Laura, who sits in the cube next to me, made us each personalized Valentine's, mine is below and very fitting.  Wish I had thought of this idea...

She nailed it!  

Goodbye Buddy

R.I.H. Simon. I will miss the clickity clack of your toes on the floor, the persistent staring when you need to go out, your counter surfing for food, and wiggling in front of me for attention. I hope you are chasing squirrels in heaven this evening! Good boy!

We had to have Simon put down today.  He was my first dog that I got on my own and, obviously,  the one I've had the longest.  17 years.  He lived in 5 different homes with me.  Traveled over 1200 miles to South Carolina and back.  Survived a hard year living in Grandma's garage when we didn't have a home of our own.  Was in a pack with many, many other dogs and cats throughout the years.  They came and went but he has always been there.  He has protected me, infuriated me, entertained me, and loved me til the end.  It was a tough decision but the right one.

Jayke and I took it pretty hard last night not hearing him pacing around the house.  Laynie and Nemo have been checking his bed regularly.  Laynie has looked in the closet, one of his favorite spots, and out side.  She didn't want to go into her crate without him.  Jayke is sleeping with his collar.  I pulled up some old pictures to try to help him cope.  This is his first loss.  All I could say was that tomorrow it will feel a little better and the day after that it will feel better than the day before.  He will always miss him but it won't hurt this much after a while.  He seemed to find some comfort in that and the stories I told him from when Simon was a puppy.  Also in knowing that he has no more pain.

Luna

Photo cred goes to Jayke

I Feel Like a Kid Again!

Because we made these for work!!  A Valentine's Day box and our whole department is exchanging Valentine's.  Jeff was the first one to put a Valentine in my box...he insisted!

Farming Kitty

Josie LOVES playing Farm Heroes or Facebooking.